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Thursday, June 30, 2016

UNRAVELING MY FAITH: Fist Bump From A Monk

This post is part of a series I wrote over the last 6 months and am just now publishing...

Our
dear sweet little Father John was on vacation this week, resulting in
no weekday Mass. This was disappointing and made me a bit sad. Which
in turn surprised me. I was sad that I wouldn't get a chance to
attend Mass twice this week? Very unlike me.

When
I took a minute to examine what was the source of my sadness over
this, I realized that the quiet routine of Mass brings me to a calm
place. It is an hour to absorb ancient words passed down from the
earliest Christians. It is an hour of peace in a serene house of God.
It is an hour to live the faith I am learning about. I can let my
mind wander as my eyes take in the beauty of our church. I can let my
mind be lead by the reading of the scripture. I can bow my head and
take a break from my life. It is almost as if time stops for me
during Mass.

With
Father John away, we had a visiting monk from Subiaco for our weekend
Mass. I had been eagerly looking forward to this all week. Yesterday
was the first time Cash has attended Mass with us, being as how he
was ill last Sunday. Eli was at his father's and was wishing he
had been home to attend this Mass with the visiting Brother. Cash, Stella,
and I chose a pew closer to the front than usual. I had been wanting
to see the whole thing better, to watch as the Father blessed the
Holy Eucharist. The visiting monk was a tall older man who had a very
stately manner about him. He spoke loud and clear and with just
enough self deprecation to make him relateable. His homily addressed
loving your neighbor and he spoke about Mother Theresa giving advice
to a young woman who was having trouble loving some people she found
difficult. Her wisdom was to instruct the woman to smile at five
people she disliked every day. Brother Brandon told his own personal
narrative of trying to do the same thing every day especially with
the students he teaches at the academy. It was a good message on how
its okay to like some people more than others but you should be kind
to all no matter what. And in smiling at those you dislike, it can
help you learn to like them more.

While
I quite enjoyed the entire Mass, the funny thing, or the thing that
stuck with me or seemed out of place, was that as Brother Brandon was
exiting down the aisle he paused as he reached Cash who was standing
closest to the aisle. He reached out his fist. Cash hesitated for a
second and then reached out his own fist for a bump. Brother smiled
and proceeded on. I leaned down and whispered in his ear, "Did
you just get a fist bump from a monk?" His smile stretched
across his face as he nodded. His very first time at Mass and he is
singled out by a visiting monk for a small sign of solidarity and
acceptance.

I
very much wish I could have spoken with this man. His grace and
contentedness drew me toward him and I would have liked to ask him
some questions. And maybe our paths will cross again at some point, I
can at least hope they do.